Coal will continue to be main fuel source in 2040

Kolkata: Coal will remain the main source of power generation in 2040 although renewable energy will be a significant contributor by then.

According to S D Prasad, NTPC’s general manager-fuel, coal will account for at least 60 per cent of energy source till 2040. The rest would be renewable and nuclear.

“At present coal contributes anything between 62% and 64% to the total power generation mix. This will decline only marginally to 60% because it is estimated that overall demand for power will rise by 80% by 2032,” said Prasad.

The rise in demand would be catered by incremental renewable sources while thermal power capacities would also be added albeit at a slower pace than thermal.

Yet, coal’s contribution will decline marginally – anything between 2 per cent and 4 per cent.

To match demand for power generation the country's coal production is estimated to increase by 50 per cent in 2040 from a base level of 2012.

“To save the environment and to fight climate change, my government has planned a major campaign. By 2022, we want to generate 175 GW of renewable energy. In the last three years, we have already achieved 60 GW or around one-third of this target,” he said.